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Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT)- Adults

Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT): Sense of Control and Catastrophic Symptom Expectations as Targets of a Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Adult Functional Seizures (FS)

Who can join

Ages 19 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* 19 years and older.
* Diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures by a medical doctor using video-EEG.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Comorbid Epilepsy
* Less than 4 PNES per month
* Other paroxysmal nonepileptic events (e.g. episodes related to hypoxic-ischemic phenomena, sleep disorders or migraine-associated disorders)
* Participation in other therapy during the study
* Severe intellectual disability
* Severe mental illness (delusions/hallucinations)

Exclusion for CPT:

• Blood pressure \>130/80 mmHg

About the study

The purpose of this study is to assess sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations as targets for Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT- an intervention focused on changing behaviors and thoughts) for treatment of adult psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES, episodes resembling epileptic seizures but with no correlated epileptiform activity). 19 years and older participants diagnosed with PNES who are treated at UAB FND clinic will engage in twelve sessions of ReACT. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: no wait, 3-month waiting period, 6-month waiting period. Sense of control over actions will be measured by the magic and turbulence task, a well-validated measure of sense of control. Participants will complete the cold pressor test (CPT) in which participants hold their hand in cool water for as long as possible up to 3 minutes. Catastrophic symptom expectations in response to the CPT will be measured by Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), pain tolerance (time with hand in water) and cortisol response. Target assessments occur 7 days before treatment and 7 days after the 12th treatment session. Participants randomized to the 3-month and 6-month waiting period will also complete these measures one additional time immediately before the beginning of their waiting period. Long term follow-up assessments will occur at 2 months, 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before to 12 months after treatment. Participants randomized to the 3-month or 6-month waiting period conditions will log weekly PNES episodes until the start of therapy.

What is being tested

• ReACT (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham · Participants: 50 · Started: Apr 10, 2025

Contact the study team

• Aaron Fobian, PhD · Phone: 205-934-2241

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06570954

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Seizures

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.